Eggplant Sandwiches W Goat Cheese Tomato Basil Food

GRILLED EGGPLANT STACKS WITH GOAT CHEESE, TOMATO AND BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut the eggplant into ½" thick rounds. Lightly season them with salt on both sides and let sit on a paper towel for 30 minutes to let water to come out of the eggplant.
• Brush or drizzle olive oil on top of each slice and grill them for 2 -3 minutes each side until cooked.
• Blend the basil leaves with 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor or blender until smooth.
• Cut the tomatoes crosswise to 1/4" thick rounds.
• On an oiled baking pan or using parchment paper, arrange 4 eggplant rounds side by side. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of the basil-garlic mixture on top of each one, then generously sprinkle the cheese crumbs. Top each with tomato rings. Add another layer of eggplant, basil spread, cheese and tomato rounds and top with the rest of the crumbled feta. Make as many layers as you can. Usually, 1 large eggplant will make 4, 3 layer stacks.
• Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes until the tomatoes are wilted and the cheese is soft and melted.
• Enjoy!

EASY EGGPLANT WITH GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450F.
• Peel the eggplants and slice them lengthwise into 1/3- inch thick pieces. Each eggplant should make about 6 slices.
• Using a silicone pastry brush or just your hands, brush the eggplant slices lightly with olive oil on both sides.
• Arrange the eggplant on a large baking tray and bake for about 20-25 minutes. (Depending on the size of your oven you may need to bake the eggplant in batches).
• Once the eggplant is baked, let it cool completely.
• Spread 1/2 tbsp of goat cheese onto half of the eggplant, just like you see in the photo below.
• Place 2 slices of tomato and 1 basil leaf on top of the goat cheese. Fold the eggplant in half. Garnish with basil leaves.

GRILLED VEGETABLE, HERB AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
• In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, tarragon, thyme, salt, and pepper. Place 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a medium bowl. Add the zucchini and eggplant and toss until coated. Place the vegetables on the grill pan or grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until tender. While the vegetables are cooking, spread the olive oil mixture on the baguette halves. Using a spatula spread the goat cheese over the olive oil mixture. Place the cooked vegetables on the bottom half of the baguette. Arrange the spinach on top of the vegetables. Place the top half of the baguette over the filling.
• To serve, cut the baguette into 4 sandwiches. Serve immediately or wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Combine oil and garlic in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Brush cut sides of baguette and both sides of eggplant slices and tomato slices with garlic oil. Grill cut sides of baguette until toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer baguette, cut side up, to plates. Season eggplant and tomatoes with salt and pepper. Grill eggplant until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side; transfer to plate. Grill tomatoes until warmed through, about 1 minute per side; transfer to plate.
• Spread goat cheese on bread, dividing equally. Overlap eggplant slices, then tomato slices on baguette halves, covering completely. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Cut each sandwich diagonally into 4 sections and serve.

EGGPLANT SANDWICHES W/ GOAT CHEESE, TOMATO, & BASIL

Steps:

• For the basil oil: combine the olive oil and basil leaves in a food processor and season with salt and pepper. Process until pureed (there will be some sediment), about 5 minutes. Strain into a squeeze bottle. May be refrigerated for 1 day; use at room temperature. Makes about 1 1/4 cup.
• For the sandwiches: combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic and divide between two large bowls. Add the eggplant to one bowl and the tomatoes to the other and let marinade 1 hour, refrigerated.
• Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to high.
• Remove the eggplant and tomatoes from the marinade, shaking off any excess, and season with salt and pepper on both sides. (Discard the used marinade). Grill the eggplant until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side; grill the tomatoes just until marked.
• Place 8 slices of eggplant on a work surface and top each with a slice of tomato. Place a slice of goat cheese over the tomato and sprinkle with the basil (some basil will be left over). Cover with the remaining eggplant slices. Place the sandwiches on the grill just until the cheese has softened, about 1 minute, turning once (DH says he won't turn the sandwiches next time as it made them a bit messy).
• Arrange the eggplant sandwiches on a platter and drizzle with the basil oil.

SPAGHETTI AGLIO-OGLIO WITH ZUCCHINI, TOMATO & BASIL

Steps:

• Prepare your ingredients.
• Boil water for the spaghetti and when ready add enough spaghetti for 4 people.
• In a separate fry pan add olive oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan) - approx 6 tablespoons.
• Heat gently and add onion, garlic and zucchini. Gently fry for a few minutes turning the contents often.
• About 2-3 minutes before the spaghetti is ready, add the basil and tomato's. Fold gently so as to absorb the oil.
• Drain the spaghetti and add to the fry pan in batches, stirring the ingredients into the spaghetti as you add.
• Season with salt & pepper and serve with parmesan cheese.

EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Combine chopped tomatoes, chopped fresh basil and red wine vinegar in small bowl. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Brush 6 largest eggplant slices lightly with olive oil (reserve remaining eggplant for another use.) Brush bread lightly with olive oil. Grill eggplant and bread until golden, about 4 minutes per side for eggplant and 2 minutes per side for bread. Arrange bread slices on plates. Spread goat cheese over, dividing evenly. Top with eggplant slices. Season with salt and pepper. Using slotted spoon, mound tomato mixture on eggplant, spread to cover and serve.

TOMATO, BASIL AND EGGPLANT FLATBREAD WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• FOR THE FLATBREAD DOUGH: In a measuring cup, combine the water, sugar and yeast. Set aside until yeast is bubbly, about 5 minutes. Stir in olive oil. In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose and whole- wheat flours, salt and pepper. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Dump the mixture onto a lightly floured board or other work surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, adding more flour just when the dough sticks to your hands or work surface. until the dough is smooth.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let set in a warm, draft-free place until it's doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and then divide it into 4 equal pieces. Knead each dough piece on a lightly floured work surface for 1 minute into a tight ball. Set dough balls on an oiled tray and refrigerate, covered, for 20 minutes or longer. (Dough can be made up to 1 day in advance. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.)
• FOR THE ROASTED EGGPLANT SLICES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Soak the eggplant slices in cold water for 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Spritz 2 baking sheets with olive oil. Arrange slices in a single layer on the sheets and then spritz them with more oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool and reserve for use.
• TO ASSEMBLE THE FLATBREADS: Place a pizza stone on the lowest rack of the oven and preheat oven to 500 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, press a ball of Flatbread Dough into a disc, then roll it in a thin circle about 1/8 inch thick.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured wooden pizza paddle. Spritz the dough with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with some cooked minced garlic (or roasted garlic paste). Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Add 3 to 4 eggplant slices, then 6 or 7 torn fresh basil leaves. Add 2 to 3 tomato slices. Top with 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese and a few twists of black pepper.
• Spritz with a little more olive oil, then gently slide the dough off the wooden paddle and onto the pizza stone. Bake 4 to 6 minutes, until the crust is crisp and golden brown. Remove flatbread with the paddle onto a cutting surface and slice.
• Repeat the process with the remaining three flatbread discs.
• TIP 1: If you prepare the dough and eggplant in advance and arrange all your other ingredients before starting, you can assemble each of these flatbreads in about 2 minutes, plus 4 to 6 minutes baking time.
• TIP 2: When it comes to toppings, less is more --- don't lay them on too thick. And get yourself a pizza stone and a wooden pizza paddle in order to handle and cook the thin crust properly.

GRILLED TOMATO, BASIL, AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Cut baguette crosswise in half. Cut each half lengthwise in half to form 4 pieces total. Combine oil, garlic, and herbs in small bowl. Brush all cut sides of bread with half of oil mixture.
• Grill bread, cut sides down, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Remove from grill. Quickly spread cut sides of toast with goat cheese. Top with tomatoes and olives, dividing equally. Drizzle remaining oil mixture on top.
• Return open-face sandwiches to grill. Cook until bottom sides are toasted, cheese melts, and tomatoes begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Cut each sandwich diagonally in half and serve.

TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Butter/ grease 9x12 casserole dish.
• Place cubed bread in one layer on bottom of the casserole dish.
• Sprinkle bread with butter and 2 1/2 cup cheese (reserve 3/4 cup grated cheese for topping casserole).
• Beat eggs until foamy.
• Add milk, wine, scallions, and seasonings.
• Pour egg mixture over cheese.
• Place remianing shredded cheese,tomato and basil on top of egg mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Let casserole sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degreed for one hour.

SMASHED FINGERLING POTATOES WITH ROAST GARLIC-BASIL OIL

Steps:

• In a large pot, cover the fingerlings with cold water. Bring to a simmer over high heat and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain in a colander.
• While the potatoes are cooking, puree half of the roasted garlic with the apple juice, basil and parsley in a blender until smooth. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil slowly until incorporated. Reserve.
• Transfer half of the potatoes into a mixing bowl. Mash the potatoes with the remaining garlic using a stationary or hand mixer until smooth. Add the yogurt, whipping to smooth as necessary.
• Add the remaining potatoes and mash into rustic, large pieces. Season generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle in a little of the basil oil.
• Transfer to a warm serving dish. Drizzle a few tablespoons of the basil scented olive oil over the surface of the puree. Serve immediately while piping hot.